Typewriter desk



Feb. 6, 1945. M Q MQ AT 2,369,069

TYPEWRITER DESK Filed May 51, 1943 flllll l lll ll ll Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE 3' 2,369,069 a TYPEWRITER DESK Mervyn 0. Mowat, Chicago, 111.

Application May 31, 1943, Serial No. 489,133

6 Claims. (Cl. 312-29) I My invention relates to ypewriter desks.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a typewriter, desk of the type having a typewriter recess underneaththe desk top into and out of which a typewriter shelf carrying the typewriter is mounted for movement, which will avoid the use of swinging metal links and which will hold the typewriter shelf firmly in position when withdrawn from the recess.

A further object of my invention is. to provide such a construction which uses little or no metal.

Further objects and advantages of the inven-- tion will be apparent from thedescription and claims. 7 v, I

In the drawing, in which an embodiment of my invention is shown,

Figure 1 is-a perspective view of a typewriter desk; V g

Fig. 2 is asection substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 3; I

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and H v Fig. 4 is a detailview of one of the guide cheek pieces.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the construction shown comprises a typewriter desk I having a typewriter recess or compartment 2 underneath the desk top 3, a typewriter shelf 4, insertable, with a typewriter 5 carried thereby, into the recess underneath the desk top and withdrawable, with the typewriter, from the recess to a position of use in front of the desk top position for use of the typewriter is shown at C in Fi 2.

. In withdrawing the shelf and typewriter, the

natural tendency is to pull outwardly and upwardly on the shelf. This will in general cause the rear guides l to bear down on the lower edges of the guideways 9 and the front guides 6 to bear would hold the shelf in horizontal position. The

forward movement of the shelf will result in drawing the guides I up against the fronts of the guideways as shown at D. in Fig. 4. This limits the outward movement of the shelf. The user then tilts the shelf upwardlyabout the point D as a center to bring the front guides 6 from the position at F to the position shown at E in Fig. 4 above the upward extension of the guide cheek,

- the rear guides still remaining at the front ends 'of the guide ways.

. ing the guides 6 and I, will cause the shelf to (shown in full lines in Fig. 2), and means for guiding the shelf in insertion and withdrawal comprising a front pair of guides 6 projecting laterally on opposite sides of the shelf and secured thereto, arear pair of guides I projecting laterally on opposite sides of the shelf and secured to the shelf, a pair of guideways 8 inthe well controlling the movement of the front guides, and a pair of guideways 9 in the recess controlling the 1 l movement of the rear guides, the guideways being laid out so that in moving the typewriter into and out of the recess, downward movement of the rear guides l and upward movement of the front guides 6 are limited to. prevent the typewriter from striking the under side of the desk top 3 and so that when the front of the typewriter shelf and typewriter thereon are drawn to the front they may be lifted to raise the upper part The position of the shelf and typewriter wbenin be held firmly in position of use by the action of the weight of the front end of the shelf and the typewriter supported thereon.

To move the shelf and typewriter from the position of use to the storage position, the operations are reversed. The user lifts up on the front end of the shelf 4, the shelf tilting about the front followers 6 resting in the notches l0 asa fulcrum point until the rear guides 1 are clear of the notches [2 in the guideways. The shelf carrying the typewriter is then drawn forwardly to bring the rear guides up against the front ends of the guideways to position D and to bring the front guides to a position in which they can swing downwardly from the position shown at E in Fig. 4 to the position shown at F. The shelf carrying the typewriter can then be pushed inwardly to the positionshown at A in Fig. 2.

In a certain type of desk, the recess has four uprights l3 at the corners, to which the front and side panels M of therecess are secured. In

this type of desk, the cheek pieces H, in which the guideways are formed, may lie in the space between a. pair of corner posts, thus enabling the shelf to be made substantially the width of the front opening in the recess. A suitable door 15 is hinged in front of the recess for closing the recess when the shelf and typewriter are in storage position. 'Ihe guides may be formed as rounded extensions of wooden cleats or strips I6 secured to the under side of the shelf. In the type of desk shown, it may be necessary to secure these cleats to the shelf 4 after the cleats have been placed in position,-i n which their rounded extensions are in engagement with the guideways 8 and 9. This may be done by the use of screws l1 extending through the cleats and threaded into the shelf. The construction- 10 l and the cheek pieces in which thelgui'deways, 8 and 9 are formed, may be made of wood of,.a,

is such that the cleats 4, with their guidess' and suitable hardness and strength:

If desired, that portion of the cheekgpiecesllj adjacent the notches [2 may be reinforced by means of blocks i8 secured-to the side panels 14 and extending between the desk top 3 and the upper edges of the cheek-pieces Furthermodifications will be-apparent to those skilled in the art and it 'is'desire'd, therefore, 5 that the invention be limited only by the scope 1. In atypewriterdesk having; a typewriter recess underneath the desk top; a typewriter shelf insertable with the typewriter carried thereby into said recess underneath the desk top and-withdrawable with the, typewriter from said recess to a position of use in front of the 'desk' top; and means for'gui'ding said shelf in insertion andywithdrawal comprising a front pair" of guides projecting laterally on' opposite-sides of the shelf,

' a rear pair of guides projecting la'terallyon opposite sidesof'the shelf; a first pair-of forwardly and upwardly inclined guideways in -therecess controlling the movement of the front guides and a'secon-d' pair of forwardly and upwardly inclined guideways in the recess controlling the movement of the rear guides, the guideways on'each side of the shelf. being spaced; apart a distance less than that which will hold the shelf in horizontal position so that in moving the typewriter into andout of the recess downward movement of the rear guides and upward movement of the front Ways for the front guides beingfsubstantially arcs Ofia circle about the front ends of the guideways for thev rear guides so that, when the front of the'typewriter shelf andv the typewriter thereon are drawn to the front, the frontend of the shelf may be swung upwardly about the. rear guides as pivots/to a. substantially horizontal position to bring the upper part of the." typewriter above the level of the desktop, the upper. ends of the guideways for the front guides communicating with seat portions rearwardly thereof for said front guides, the rear 'guideways terminating at their upper ends in widened portions presenting downwardly facing seatportions so that thereafter the shelf may be moved rearwardly 'sothat shelf insertable with the typewriter carried thereby into said recess underneaththe desk top and withdrawable with the typewriter from said recess to a position of use in front of the desk top, and means for guiding said shelf in insertion and withdrawalcompris'ing a front pair of guides -proi'ectin laterally on opposite sidesof 2,369,069 the shelf, a rear pair of guides projecting laterally on opposite sides of the shelf, a first pair of forwardly and upwardly inclined guideways in the recess controlling the movement of the front guides and a second pair of. forwardly and upwardly inclined guideways in the recess controlling the movement of the rear guides, the iguideways on each side of the shelf being spaced apart a distance less than that which will hold the'shelf in horizontal position so that in mov- .'in-g the typewriter into and out of the recess downward movement of the rear guides and upwardmovement'of the front guides are limited -to hold said shelf in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position to prevent the typewriter from strikingthe under-side (if-the desk top, the upper front endsof the guideways f or the front' guides bein'g'substantially-arcs of a circle about the front ends of the guid'eways for the -'drawn tothefront; the front end of the shelf may be swung upwardly aboutthe rear guides as pivots to a substantially horizontal position j tobring the'upper part-of the typewriter above the level of the desk top, the upper ends of the 'guideways for the frontguides communicating rear guides sothat'when the' front-of the typewriter shelf and the typewriter thereon are with seat portions rearward-1y thereoffor said front guides, the rear guideways terminating at their-upper ends in widened portions presenting downwardly facing seat portions so that thereafter the shelf may be moved rearwardly so that it is heldin horizontal position for use by the engagement of "the guides" with the seat portions, each of saidfirst pair of guideways having an upwardly opening notch into which a front guide enters when the shelfis in position for use.

3; In a typewriter desk having a typewriter recess underneath the desk top, a typewriter shelf 40 insertable'with thetypewriter carried thereby into said recess underneath the desk top and withdrawable with the typewriter from said recess to a, position of use in front-of the desk top, -andmeans for guiding said shelfin insertion 2' and withdrawal comprising'a front pair of guides projecting laterally on opposite sides of the shelf, a'rear-pair of guides projeotinglaterally on opposite sides of the shelf, 'a firstpair of forwardly and upwardly inclined guideways in the recess controlling the movement of thefront guides and a second pair of forwardly andupwardly in- A} clinedguideways in the recess controlling the movement of the "rear guides, the guidewayson each side of the shelf being spaceda-part' adistance, less than that which-will hold the shelf 3 in horizontal-position so that in moving' th'e type- Y Jiwriter into and out of'theIrecess-downward movement of therear guides and upward movement of the front guides are limited to hold said She-1f v in a downwardly and forwardly' inclined position to preventthe typewriter fromstriking the under side of the desk top the upper front ends ofthe guide'ways for the front guides being substantially arcs of a circle about the front ends of the 'guideways for therear' guides "so that when the Ifront of i the typewriter shelf and the typewriter thereon are drawn to the' front, the front end of the shelf may be swung upwardly about the rear guides as pivots to a substantially horizontal position tobring the upperv part of the f typewriter aboveethe level of the desk top, the upper ends of the guideways for the -front guides communicating with seat portions rearwardly thereof for safd' front guides, the rear guideways term-iid-hatin'g at' theirzupper ends in -uidened' -portions presenting downwardly facing seat portions so that thereafter the shelf may be moved rearwardly so that it is held in horizontal position for use by the engagement of the guides with the seat portions, each of said second pair of guideways having a downwardly opening notch into which a rear guide enters when the shelf is in position for 'use.

4. In a typewriter desk having a typewriter recess underneath the desk top, a typewriter shelf insertable with the typewriter carried thereby into said recess underneath the desk top and withdrawable with the typewriter from said recess to a position of use in front of the desk top, and means for guiding said shelf in insertion and withdrawal comprising a front pair of guides projecting laterally on opposite sides of the shelf, a rear pair of guidesprojecting laterally on opposite sides of the shelf, a first pair of forwardly and upwardly inclined guideways in the recess controlling the movement of-the front guides and a second pair of forwardlyand upwardly inclined guideways in the recess controlling the movement of the rear guidesj-the guideways on each side of the shelf being spaced apart a distance leSs than that which will hold the shelf in horizontal position so that in moving the typewriter into and out of the recess downward movement of the rear guides and upward movement of the front guides are limited to hold said shelf in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position to prevent the typewriter from striking the under side of the desk top, the upper front ends of the guideways for the front guides being substantially arcs of a circle about the front ends of the guideways for the rear guides so that when the front of the typewriter shelf and the typewriter thereon are drawn to the front, the front end of the shelf may be swung upwardly about the rear guides as pivots .to a substantially horizontal position to bring the upper part of the.

typewriter above the level of the desk top, the up per ends of the guideways for the front guides communicating with seat portions rearwardly thereof for said front guides, the rear guideways terminating at their upper ends in widened portions presenting downwardly facing seat portions so that thereafter the shelf may be moved rearwardly so that it is held in horizontal position for use by the engagement of the guides with the seat portions, each of saidfirst pair of guideways having an upwardly opening notch into which a front guide enters when the shelf is in position for use, each of said second pair of guideways having a downwardly opening notch into which a rear guide enters when the shelf is in position intosaid recess underneath the desk top and withdrawable with the typewriter from said recess to a position of use in front of the desk top, and means for guiding said shelf in insertion and withdrawal comprising a front pair of guides projecting laterally on opposite sides of the shelf, a rear pair of guides projecting laterally on Lopposite sides of the shelf, .a first pair of forwardly and upwardly inclined guideways in the recess controlling the movement of the front guides and a second pair of forwardly and upwardly inclined guideways in the recess controlling the movement of the rear guides, the guideways on each side of the shelf being spaced apart a distance less than that which will hold the shelf in horizontal position so that in moving the typewriter into and out of the recess downward movement of the rear guides and upward movement of the front guides are limited to hold said shelf in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position to prevent the typewriter from striking the underside of the desk top the upper front ends of the guideways for the front guides being substantially arcs of a circle about the front ends of the guideways for the rear guides so-that when the front of the typewriter shelf and the typewriter thereon are drawn to the front, the front end of the shelf may be swung upwardly about the rear guides as pivots to a substantially horizontal position to bring the upper part of the typewriter above the level of the desk top, the upper ends of the guideways for the front guides communicating with seat portions rearwardly thereof for said front guides, the rear guideways terminating at their upper ends in widened por-' tions presenting downwardly facing seat portions so that thereafter the shelf may be moved rearwardly so that it is held in horizontal position for use by the engagement of the guides with the seat portions, said guideways being formed in wooden cheek pieces mounted in said recess on opposite sides of the said shelf.

6. Ina typewriter desk having-a typewriter recess underneath the desk top, a typewriter shelf insertable with the typewriter carried thereby into said recess underneath the desk top and withdrawable with the typewriter from said recess to a position of use in front of the desk top, and means for guiding said shelf in insertion and withdrawal comprising a front pair of guides projecting laterally on opposite sides of the shelf,

a rear pair of guides projecting laterally on opposite sides of the shelf, a first pair of forwardly and upwardly inclined guideways in the recess controlling the movement of the front guides and a second pair of forwardly and upwardly inclined guideways in the recess controlling the movement of the rear guides, the guideways on each side of the shelf being spaced apart a distance less than that which will hold the shelf in horizontal position so that in moving the typewriter into and out of the recess downward movement of the rear guides and upward movement of the front guides are limited to hold said shelf in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position to prevent the typewriter from striking the under side of the desk top, the upper front ends of the guideways for the front guides being substantially arcs of a circle about the front ends of the guideways for the rear guides so that when the front of the typewriter shelf and the' typewriter thereon are drawn to the front, the front end of the shelf may be swung upwardly about the rear guides as pivots to a substantially horizontal position to bring the upper part of the typewriter above the level of the desk top, the

terminating at their upper ends in widened portions presentin downwardly facing seat portions so that thereafter the shelf may be moved 

